SOUTH WAIRARAPA REBUS CLUB            

A group of 11 members made an autumn “Fifth Friday” visit to Ngawi and Cape Palliser on 29 April in a 12-seater rental van. After picking up members from Carterton, Greytown and Martinborough, we drove to the native plant nursery operated by the Kohunui Marae Trust, just south of Burnside Church on Lake Ferry Road. There we were met by Teresa Aporo, Chair of the Kohunui Trust, who was our host at the nursery and our guide on the trip to Cape Palliser. As the marae itself was under maintenance restrictions, we spent our time there in the plant nursery. Native plants are raised under contract to Aorangi Restoration Trust from seed collected locally by numbers of volunteers. The nursery manager, Riki Te Tau, explained the work they were doing from planting seeds to delivery of the hardened plants. It was an impressive and professional operation, with just two part-time paid workers. Riki is doing an on-line horticulture course and Riria Aporo is starting hers in the next semester.

After lunch at the Lake Ferry Pub we drove to Ngawi and Cape Palliser along the scenic coast road, guided by Teresa through country very familiar to her and her whanau. Cape Palliser is Aporo whenua. Teresa told us about the history of the area. There have been several archeological studies on sites along the coast. Local Māori used to trade with tribes across the strait and there are sites of extensive historical kumara gardens at Whatarangi. There is current research work on the earliest known Māori variety of kumara, taputini, investigating growth habits and needs in an experimental plot in this historical garden. 

Ngawi is a small fishing village with boats launched from the shore using an assortment of old bulldozers. Live crayfish exports were pioneered from here and seaweed is harvested for the production of laboratory quality agar. Kupe’s Sails, Nga Ra a Kupe, are a spectacular rock formation adjacent to the road between Ngawi and the Cape. At the end of the road stands the Cape Palliser Lighthouse, a landmark since 1897. There were 20 shipwrecks along this coast between 1841 and 1897.

There were no volunteers to climb the 253 steps up to the lighthouse but all of us were fascinated by the thriving colony of seals West of the Cape itself. A short excursion for the more mobile members brought us to the seal kindergarten where young ones are supervised while their mothers are at sea fishing.

The South Wairarapa Rebus Club meets in the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club on the fourth Friday morning of each month and organises an outing in those months with a fifth Friday. Anyone in the retired age group who may be interested in SW Rebus Club is welcome to come along to a meeting as a visitor.  Please contact David Woodhams 306 8319.